Rail-joint.



, G. LANCE.

RAIL JOINT.

CATION FILED NOV APPLI .26. 1911. I 1 ,273,505. Patented July 23, 1918.

W lg n f? I V7 GEORGE LANCE, OF PONDEREY, IDAHO.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1918.

Application filed November 26, 1917. Serial No. 204,042.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonen Lance, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ponderey, in the county of Bonner and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improve ments in rail joints and is designed for the purpose of providing an eflicient means for supporting the rail ends with respect to the ties, for supporting them against horizontal movement and to provide an effective joint ing whereby the weight of the tral'lic will be removed from the rail ends and transferrtul to the plate during the passage of such traffic over the rail ends.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a comparatively inexpensive and etl'icient rail joint especially adapted for use in connection with any standard rails and which will be equally applicable for use in connection with old or used rails as well as new stock.

The invention consists in certain novel features and combinations and arrangements involving particularly the entire plate and the means for supporting the wheels of rolling stock in such a manner that the strain is not imposed upon the extreme ends of the rails and which latter means may from time to time be replaced whenever the traitic causes undue or excessive wear in a manner as will be pointed out in the accompanying specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention is illustrated, constructed and arranged according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles of the invention.

Figure l is a side view in elevation of my rail joint,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section through a rail and showing the rail joint in elevation,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section through the upper portion of the rail joint, and

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary enlarged detail in cross section showing the manner of securing the detachable shoe.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings, the ordinary type of rails 1 are shown in their true butted relation and joined therewith by the rail joint of my construction illustrated at This joint consists firstly of a tie plate member 3 which will rest upon at least two adjoining ties and provides a substantial rigid bed for the rail ends. Rising from the plate and adjustable to one side of the rail is the fish plate member l supporting the rail flange on the under side of the ball in the usual manner. Rising above this portion -l is an extension 5 provided with a tongue lock construction 6 by which means a shoe 7 is supported on the rail joint in such a manner that replacement may be made from time to time as excessive wear upon the shoe 7 will necessilate. The shoe 7 is formed of approximately the same length as the rail joint and has its ends 8 beveled or sloping downward so that the extreme edges are slightly under the extreme top of the ball of the rail. At the center 9 of the joint and for some little distance either side thereof the shoe is slightly higher than the highest point of the ball of the rail and joins in a gradual curve or slope with the end portions 8. The shoe 7 which is here illustrated is provided on its under side with a groove 10 to fit closely and match with the tenon 11 supported upon the upper surface of the member 5. This groove is formed with a depending portion 12 closely engaging the top of the tenon so that a direct downward bearing surface may be had equal at least to the cross section of the shoe. To avoid compression and distortion upon the tenon space is provided on either side of the depending portion 12 so as to leave the tenon free from pressure over its weakest area over the undercut edges which will prevent distortion that would tend to weld or look the shoe firmly to the upper end of the plate in such a manner as to prevent removal of the shoe when it is desired to replace with an unworn one.

Thus by reason of the above construction a dovetail lock is provided which will securely maintain the shoe upon the plate and prevent the same from late 'al movement. thereon and in addition has the advantages in providing bearing faces 12 and 13 which will constitute the entire cross section through the shoe and a longer life to the joint.

In combination with the joint 2 I provide and use the usual fish plate l l which is comrail ends will be prevented "against down- [ward deflec'tionby reason of weight passing over them, and the wheels will'be prevented 1 te crossingv the joint by reason of being lifted and slightly spaced therefroinby riding upon and over the shoe; 7 This will prevent checklng of the ralls on the ends, of ex- "cesslve wear at th1s polnt with consequent crystalliZ'ati'o11 and splihtering, will render a longer life to the rails and will provide a joint which may readily be renewed or reas'conditi'ons deinand with a minimum cost and the maximum of efficiency.

1 cl'ai1'1'1:- 1,111- a rail joint, a base plate, a fish plate rising from one side thereof and integral therewith, an upwardly extending longitudinal ridge on said fish plate, a shoe remevabl supported thereon, said shoe beiiig slightly higher than the ball of the rail at its center and inclining downward from the center-to each end, the extremities of which are lower than the ball of the rail.

2. In a rail joint, a base plate and a fish plate integral therewith, an upwardly eX- t'en'ding web portion formed on said fish plate and a tenon thereon, a shoe with a groove therein forming a dovetail-with the tenon, a space between the shoe and the tenon, and atlepe'nding tongue engaging the tenon over the central portion thereof.

j 3. In a rail j'oint, a base plate and a fish plate integral therewith, a shoe relnovably engaging with the fish plate and hi ghei than the rail over its central portion and lower than the rail at its extremities, locking means for securing the shoe to the fish plate consisting of a dovetail joint, and means whereby the shoe will engage the tenon of the dovetail on all surfaces except the upper corners of said tenon.

+1. 111 a rail joint, "thecoinbination 'of ad- 4 joining rail ends, a fish plate and a combination tie plate, and fish plate, said latter fish plate having an upraise'd edge portion adjusted closely alongside the outer side of the rails andsupporting 011 its upper edge a shoe, said shoe removably attached to said uprai'sed edge portion and having a direct downward bearing surface'equ'al to the cross section of said upraised portion.

, In testimony whereof I aifllX iny signature.

GEORGE LANCE.

came-S "of 't lii's'patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

